A risk index for the prediction of the incidence of non‐A, non‐B posttransfusion hepatitis in open‐heart surgery patients

Risk factors related to the occurrence of non‐A, non‐B posttransfusion hepatitis (PTH) were statistically analyzed in 204 patients (115 adults and 89 children) who received blood transfusion and extracorporeal circulation during open‐heart surgery. The PTH incidence, irrespective of age or body weight, was affected by both transfusion volume and circulation time, ie, the incidence increased cumulatively with the increment of these two variables. Based upon such statistical analysis, a “PTH‐risk index,” from which one can objectively predict the probability of PTH, was devised by the summation of standardized transfusion volumes (Vs) and circulation time (Ts). As a result, a high correlation between the obtained PTH‐risk index and actual incidence was found. The obtained straight regression line between PTH‐risk index and the actual incidence rate enabled us to predict the incidence of PTH in open‐heart surgery patients.